Gender Identity Protections Added To Loudoun Schools Policy

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA—On Tuesday, the Loudoun County School Board voted 5-4 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the people projected under its equal opportunity policy.

Advocates spoke of LGBTQ students needing the protections, while opponents brought up the implications for locker rooms and bathrooms, WTOP reported.

The updated policy says, "The Loudoun County School Board affirms a commitment to this principle for all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, age, or genetic information."

According to Loudoun Now, a majority of school board members opposed adding a statement saying they would not change the current policies on use of bathrooms or locker rooms.

The Loudoun County school district joins neighboring school districts in Prince William and Fairfax Counties in adding LBGTQ protections. Equality Loudoun, which has been working on the issue since spring 2017, called the vote "a major win for our LGBTQ community."

The school board meeting drew a long lineup of public speakers, some of which were speaking about the slavery escape game controversy at an elementary school.